Balenciaga S2012RTW

Quotidian jean jackets inspired spongy color-blocked numbers with shoulders as exaggerated as the short shorts paired with them were small. Denim made an appearance, too, but these weren't the rear end- and leg-enhancing pants that are Ghesquière's bread and butter. Rather, they were belted high on the waist and pleated for a fuller shape through the thigh. Sailor uniforms got an airing in the form of striped ottoman V-neck oversize tunic dresses. And even white T-shirts got the haute treatment, in a foamy fabric in slouchy, asymmetrical cuts. Some of these shapes were more challenging than others, but they'll resonate with his fashion-mad fans.

Ghesquière really pushed the silhouette with the dresses at the end of the show. Patchworked from archival black and white prints or panels of tan and black, they came with Watteau backs that ballooned behind the models. With their large, elliptical brims, their visors (borrowed from a famous Irving Penn photograph) accentuated the bold diagonal lines.
(PARIS, September 29, 2011 By Nicole Phelps)

Balenciagas collection used a kind of metal material. He made the unique pattern to create the garments.

 I like the oversized hat of this collection.

Alexander McQueen S2012RTW

This collection is inspired by the shells and the creatures of the underwater. The colour tone are white, pink, orange and black, add little bit metal materials.
I like the idea that all the models are wearing the knitting mask covering the head.

 If the day began with Prospero's aquatic sorcery at Chanel, it ended with a different kind of underwater magic at Alexander McQueen. Lagerfeld's models were nymphs; Sarah Burton's were goddesses. She based her collection on the three Gs: Grès for the pleating and draping, Gaudí for the architecture, and Gaia for the sense of all-encompassing oceanic life that infused the clothes, like the outfits composed of coral or shells. Or the incredible engineered matelassé jacquard in a barnacle pattern. Or the silk chiffon in an oyster print, which had been layered, cut into circles, and ribbed (though that hardly even begins to explain the complexity of the result). And if you carried the analogy still further, the black leather appliqué that infected a lace dress could be an oil slick; the Fortuny-pleated organza woven with copper, silver, and gold was like a pirate's buried treasure.

The details of the clothes were so obsessively conceived and realized, they could have easily sunk the clothes. That did, after all, happen with Lee McQueen now and again. But Burton has already won kudos for her woman's touch, which has literally lifted the collection. The raised waist here was an exaggerated Empire line of ruffles, which undulated as the models walked, "like a jellyfish moves in the sea," said the designer. It was most striking in an apricot baby doll, one of Burton's personal favorites. In the same vein, she compared the movement of a trapeze dress to swimming. Another dress, as pale, ruffled, and fragile as a peignoir, rolled like surf.

But this collection proved how hot-wired into the core of McQueen Burton truly is. The color palette—as translucent as the inside of a shell—had the kind of unambiguous prettiness that McQueen himself might have felt inclined to disrupt in some way. Burton duly injected the glossy black leather—a sinister barracuda slipping through the shoals of shimmer, like the spirit of her erstwhile mentor. She'll never escape him; nor, it seems, does she want to.
(PARIS, October 4, 2011 By Tim Blanks)

Anna Sui F2012RTW

 Anna Sui could spin you a story about how she wove the web of inspiration for her latest collection: the Todd Oldham book about textile designer Alexander Girard, the valentine cards illustrators Walter and Naiad Einsel sent each other every year, the commercial art of Fellini favorite John Alcorn, the caftans Elizabeth Taylor wore in her campiest seventies glory days. The go-go girls on Shindig! But all of that enlightenment would ultimately be surplus to needs, because the clothes Sui showed told their own story, as upbeat and literally transporting as anyone could hope for from fashion at a time when the world craves reminders of enchantment.      (NEW YORK, February 15, 2012By Tim Blanks)

 This collection also use the beautiful textiles design, including the embroidery and print.
The edge of the cloth of the second picture is webbed of amount of beads.
Anna Sui used various blues in her design, and I think the blue is the trend of this year,

 She added some fanny elements in her collection, like the "Owl Hat" as the pictures above show.

 

Grayson Perry and Power of Making

Grayson Perry: The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman 

In the Grayson Perry’s exhibition, there are his new art works and other objects from unknown craftsman. I saw some ceramics vases decorating beautiful hand drawings and hand writing, human head using wood carving and other works in various art forms.

Power of Making

Power of Making exhibition showed in the V&A museum until 2nd January 2012, co-operating with the Crafts Council. There people can see over 100 exquisitely crafted objects from famous artists, including knitted dress from Sandra Backlund, Crochetdermy bear from Shauna Richardson, armadillo shoes from Alexander McQueen, etc. 

After visiting these two exhibitions I found several differences between them. The first difference I think is about their purposes. Grayson Perry’s The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman wants to show people the precious art works over years. The craftsman of these works maybe not known by people, however, their art talents should be accepted by people. This exhibition makes a memory of those great unknown artists. In comparing, the purpose of Power of Making is showing how making works in human activities, how people solve practical problem and let people consider the role of making in their life.

In my opinion, the Power of Making exhibition is more about making, the types of making, showing how people learn skills and make new knowledge. Daniel Charny, the guest curator of the exhibition said: “Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be.” Making is an essential role in our life. Following the development of human beings, people create things, invent and things, making becomes a way of thinking and problem solving.

Crayson Perry tried to connect the traditional craft and art. He calls his exhibition “a journey through my mind”. As a traditional craftsman he has great skills of making. This background supports his career of art. He can express his thoughts, ideas and concepts in a flexible way.

In summary, the works of The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman and the works of Power of Making are different largely because they have different purposes.

Power of Making

In 2011, the V&A and Crafts Council celebrated the role of making in our lives by presenting Power of Making, an eclectic selection of over 100 exquisitely crafted objects, ranging from a life-size crochet bear to a ceramic eye patch, a fine metal flute to dry stone walling. The exhibition was a cabinet of curiosities showing works by both amateurs and leading makers from around the world to present a snapshot of making in our time.

Objects in Power of Making Exhibition

                                             Sandra Backlund knitted dress

 

 Crochetdermy bear

Crochetdermy bear, © Shauna Richardson

 

Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes.

Pompom Tree

Making a pompom, it was a art mission for the second year textile students. We first year student also had the chance to make a pompom and join the night party in the British Museum.
The pompom tree in the above picture was put in the central of the hall in the British Museum, it was popular work for the visitors.

 Making a pompom, you will need:
Cardboard
Compass, or two circular items you can trace around
Wool
Sclssors

 

M&M'S

M&M's originated in the United States in 1941, and are now sold in over 100 countries.
The M&M'S shop is near the China Town. This food company is known as its chocolates and the beans figures, it is popular in children and young people.
The cute figures with four bright colours remember me the beautiful time of my childlhood.

 

The M&M's has more and more fans. Flowing the development, it change the chocolates' taste and colour. In addition, the company offer more interesting extra products, such as clothing, towel and dolls.

Color changes in chocolate M&M's
The following is a summary of the changes to the colors of the flagship (milk chocolate) flavor of M&M's, the only filling manufactured since the beginning of the brand. From 1941 until 1987, each package contained M&M's in five different colors; when red M&M's were reintroduced in 1987, they were added as a sixth color instead of replacing any of the existing colors.

                                                                                                                                              --Wikipidia

Visit of The British Museum

This was a special exhibition in the British Museum. It was about the medicine for the whole life of human beings.

The various medicines are for different diseases and for different ages period of human.
For instance, the red medicine pills are for cold, and the white pills are stomach pills.

Following the growth of man's age, people need to have more and more different medicines to keep the human's health, and the quality of the medicine need to be higher.

In a man's life, everyone has the experience to take medicine and to go to the hospital. Sometimes, for some serious disease people need more fine tool and medicine, such as syringes.                         

Tree of Life

The Visit of The British Museum

 

A symbol art work in the British Museum -- Tree oh Life

This tree is all made of metal, including the birds and other small animals around the tree.
The designer wanted to express the serious damage of natural eco-systerm caused by human activities.
Many animals lost their homes so that amount of species have distinct.
Human beings have the responsibility to protect our home.

Anarkitty

Dream Catcher -- Anarkitty Exhibition

                                               One exhibition of Anarkitty's works

                                                               Battle Ready

Acrylic on Canvas
91x61cm, 2011
Available at
Frame of Mine Belfast

                                                              Fireworks

Acrylic on Canvas
91x61cm, 2011
Available at
Frame of Mine Belfast

                                                            Dream Catcher

                                                            Not So Innocent

                                                              Chief Kimi Mila

Dream Catcher

For my object analysis I am going to use the dream catcher as my research topic.

Years ago I received a dream catcher as a gift from my friend. I was so interested in its beautiful colour, design and its story.

The dream catcher is originated from Native Americans, appeared from 18^th century. It is said that dream catcher is a kind of webbing with plant fibres. It is also sometimes decorating with various beautiful beads and feathers.

 In the ancient mysterious Native American story, people hang on the dream catcher in the front of their beds before sleeping. When the nights came, there were various dreams drifting in the sky. Those beautiful dreams went through the dream catcher and laid on people like feathers. However, the terrible nightmares would be caught by it. Different tribes of Native Americans have different stories about dream catcher, but they gave the same meaning for it—beautiful whish for people.

In the present day, dream catcher has become more and more popular. People use it to decorate the home and some designers use it as an interesting element in fashion.

In the following 2000 words essay I would like to research the background of dream catcher, related Native American culture, the making of dream catcher, related art works and its use in the past and current day.

Blog Evaluation

This is the first time that I ever started to work on a blog.  Blog is a very good way to record our ideas and our research. It can also show a greater audience our works in progress.

I have met basic requirements for establishing a blog. There were several articles on the blog. I have completed what tutors ask us to do and in addition, I added some of my own research and thoughts.  

Creating and maintaining a blog is a good way to practice and improve my English writing. As an international student, we don’t write as much as native speakers. So creating an English blog is a challenging experience for me. I learned a lot and improved my English.

Currently the blog is more as a personal blog for me only. I will try improving its contents and adding more articles so that it can be appreciated by a greater audience.

In working the blog, I planned and managed my time well and finish all the work according to the schedule.  In my opinion, the communication from the tutors to international students could be better, since most of international students are not so familiar with an English blog and therefore have much less experience and a bigger hurdle in creating a blog.